Seb is good with the Galaxy. He seems lost with whatever Berhalter is trying to get him to do. The talent is there but without players that aren’t spastic he can’t do much.
He wasn’t good tonight and neither was the team. Errant passes in midfield. Need to be better to beat Qatar.
Although the US and Mexico advancing means we don't have any of those players back for Friday's game, the good news is that Pipo is coming back. So we can release him and free up salary and roster space.
While its been published for some time that Pipo wants to leave, I don't think its quite as easy as the Galaxy just releasing him. First, I am fairly sure that as a union member in the final year of his contract that his salary is guaranteed for the entire season. Meaning MLS is on the hook for that amount plus any bonuses that he might be entitled to (e.g. National Club participation), unless he agrees to some sort of contract modification to facilitate his release. FWIW, per MLS rules, the Galaxy can either waive Pipo or loan/transfer him to another club outside MLS. Loaning or selling Pipo to a team outside of MLS is the only way the Galaxy can be assured of getting his roster spot. Salary cap relief is dependent upon unstated loan or transfer agreement rules. Waiving him is risky because if he clears waivers (no other MLS team wants him), then the Galaxy get neither roster nor salary cap relief. In other words its like his ghost is still there, getting paid and taking up a roster spot. If another team wants him, he goes to the highest bidder and I imagine the Galaxy gets his roster spot back, but it wasn't clear how much salary relief the Galaxy would get. There is nothing that I can find about any GAM or TAM money that he has been paid. Just that 95% of his transfer fee (and I assume loan fee) gets converted into GAM.
I managed to snag a couple of tickets for Thursday game in Austin! I am really excited. Last USA game I went to was the semi final of the copa america against Argentina and we got smacked. Hopefully this one will be a lot better!
Gyasi scoring the winning goal vs. Qatar makes me so happy! (And the sound of heads exploding within some of the US fanbase is delicious, too)
That was such a nervy game. Turner made some insane saves to keep us in it, and also it was very nice to see Qatar miss that penalty. Happy for Gyasi. Dike did not look good out there, and should have buried his chance. Side note, there were so many fake Qatar fans there. Looked like someone went to the bars before the game with a box of QATAR shirts and scarves and just gave it to people. I also wonder if they handed out free tickets. It was really strange.
I read Dike has a shoulder injury and probably should not have played. Turner and Acosta played some mind games with the PK taker. Having Gyasi as a supersub seems to be working nicely for Berhalter.
Arriola is soo frustrating to watch, he has had numerous opportunities and can't capitalize on any of them
The twits and twatwaffles in the USMNT thread must be having head explosions with the Gold Cup win by a mostly MLS squad. May they never stop with the head explosions.
What a great win - and deserved. Lletget - how many other US players are winning two trophies with this team against Mexico? This summer? Here's to our Sebastian. And the hug with Jona (apparently Rob Stone didn't recognize the back of Lletget's head) was so touching.
Watching a replay of the game on FS1. Berhalter screaming at the team to push up and press Mexico. Right after that, a steal in the middle and Lletget should have had an assist on an Arriola open shot that went off the post.
A friend text me around 545pm to ask if I would be watching the game. I said I was. I asked him if he was and he says, “I’m 50/50. Im having a great Sunday. I’m not sure I want it ruined.” I don’t blame him! I never thought this team would get anything out of the tournament when I saw the roster, but boy was I wrong about Greg. Those boys play for him. This team has gone back to playing with heart. I love it! For example, Arriola had two clear chances to score, and didn’t. I was frustrated; however, his play in defense saved us a number of times. I wish we would have scored, but I’m glad he was able to push through and contribute in tangible ways on the field. Shout out to Gyasi and Lleget who get so much hate but find ways to contribute. The future is bright!
It is so great to see the fight of the National Team I know and love. Never say die is back. Great game, great summer. Let's qualify.
apologies to the non-USA Galaxy fans, it was a thrilling weekend for me, from the LA Galaxy beatdown of Portland to the gutsy USMNT win against Mexico. Gyasi's workrate, intelligence and stamina were on full display during that game. I would have loved for him to get the winning goal, but I was fine with his performance. When you don't possess the ball, its tough for the strikers to actually get the ball with a chance to score. He had some decent opportunities just couldn't get it on frame or capitalize, but his defensive work, his hold up work, and his possession work were insane. He was making runs and pressuring well into the 2nd phase of extra time. I got tired from watching him. He's easily one of our more effective strikers in the pool and is prob on the 23 as top 3 perhaps. with a group of attacking midfielders between Reyna, McKennie, and Pulisic we don't need our striker to be a scoring threat, which is kind of interesting to say. To our boy Lletget: I don't understand why [Nats threads] say he sucked. He was on it from the start, winning the ball with pressure and delivering the key pass to Arriola's post shot, and was involved in a few other attacks. Was it his best game? No. Maybe I'm in a different camp but I don't think he's been anywhere near as effective since being placed as a central midfielder. I always thought he was more effective out wide. I don't think he did anything to hurt or help his chances getting onto the choice 23. As far as I can tell, He's on Berhalter's rosters on the A Team as a solid option to have in your pocket depending on the formation you want to have and tactits as well. The moment after the final whistle of him and Jona hugging it out, and Seb consoling Jona was touching.